philofophical, a more reafoning caft, and therefore wishes a curb to the luxuriancy of genius, which is efteemed little better than a Phaeton, who fets the world of literature on fire.

Influenced however by the example of antiquity, a value fhould be fet, by modern opinion, upon poetical fuperiority. If a manly spirit of diction, a fine vein of fancy, harmony of verfe, and fublimity of thought, have ever merited a character, they equally deferve it now; for works of genuine excellence receive not an intrinfic change from the fluctuation of time, or the caprice of taste; and, if more certain of a happy display in any language, are more certain of it in our own; a language adapted to every fpecies of compofition.

Indeed, the confequence too ufually arifing from fublimity is the vice of bombaft: genius on the wing knows not where to ftop its flight. This falfe grandeur, like mere title in life, forms a fhadow without fubftance:

true grandeur strikes irrefiftibly. It is not a clap of thunder, founding for a moment; it is not a flash of lightening, which dazzles, and disappears an elegant intermixture of figures, and rich variety of beauties, rivet admiration; while elaborate diction, unpof feffed of them,

Plays round the head, but comes not to the "heart."*

ORIG. Τό τε υψος, το τε παθητικον.

HE Pathetic and the Sublime neither correspond, nor are incompatible. The latter refpects the description of paffions more animated;

*MILTON's enervate length of particular defcriptions in Paradife Loft has been efteemed by critics to throw additional luftre on his fpirited, paffages; as if the temporary flips of under

standing

animated; the former is couched in terms graceful, but more humble. Several paffages in VIRG. Æn. B. iv. convey the pathetic, where pomp and majesty are unknown. Amongst others, which difplay these united qualities, (Majeftas pathetica) the speeches of DIDO and ÆNEAS may be remarked. To do juftice, however, to modern fenfibility, our fuperiority over the ancients is avowed. To omit performances of a more elevated nature, the Epiftle of ELOïSA to ABELARD, and, with due deference to Mr. POPE's verfification, that of ABELARD to ELOÏSA by Mr. CAWTHORNE; the Monody on the Death of the Twickenham Swan, dreffed in the weeds of melancholy, and directed by nature,

flanding increafed the general reputation of abilities. But the poet in this view may rather be compared to his own SAMPSON, when his enormous strength was reduced by DALILAHthe fufpenfion of our writer's genius.

It may be injuftice to determine, whether the Frontispiece to this ingenious poem, or the Poetry itself, merits fuperior commendation. The former is inftantly felt.

nature, without which all elegiac reflections are a ftring of puerile affection, or rather af fectation; PRIOR's Love Queftion and Anfwer, harmonised from a rugged original, and a most successful rival to POPE in familiarity and eafe; and, above all, the Elegy in a Country Church-Yard, not better known. than admired, are very expreffive examples of pathetic excellence.

This applause is a becoming facrifice to the merits of my country, abstracted from religious compofition in general: pathetic energy there peculiarly abounds. The following paffage immediately occurs, in which I have always been ftruck with the repetitions, as characteristic of the royal author's fituation.

My tears have been my meat day and "night, while they daily fay unto me, "Where is now thy God?

"Why art thou fo full of heaviness, O 66 my foul; and why art thou fo difquieted within me ?" And afterwards

"My heart is fmitten asunder as with a "fword, while mine enemies, that trouble "me, caft me in the teeth; namely, while "they fay unto me, Where is now thy "God?

"Why art thou fo vexed, O my foul,

and why art thou fo difquieted within "me? Put thy truft in God; for I will yet "praise Him, who is the help of my coun"tenance, and my God."-Pfalm xlii.

The whole is an appeal to the heart.

T

exhibit with energy the quick fallies particularly of refentment, a few lines, even a few words, will bid fairer for fuccefs than the most labored defcription: frequently" magis ipfa filentia terrent." The celebrated picture of the Sacrifice of

IPHI